47 Chapter 47: Rolling Thunder I

She woke up the next morning with Neel shouting again in her mind. Lately, Neel had become her usual morning alarm, accepting no excuse; he mercilessly woke her up on time.

After she left the room, she met everyone in the main hall, including Jean. Jean wore a very stiff expression as he waited for his carriage; the matter about someone interfering with the one of the tournaments participant undetected disturbed him greatly.

After Jean left, Rena, Frei, Mirra, and Sebastian followed him with another carriage. When the carriages left the mansion, the sky was covered by heavy gray clouds and a strong gust of wind was blowing.

Inside the carriage, Rena asked Frei, "Where does Senka stay? How about visiting him after this match over?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea!" Mirra, who was sitting next to Rena, agreed to her suggestion.

Before Frei said anything, Sebastian answered, "Miss Serena, Senka appreciates your concern. However, please be patient, he would return after it's over."

Rena glanced suspiciously at Sebastian, thinking this situation was really odd; he was forbidden to see him and there was a matter of him getting attack sneakily as well. What was going on exactly?

Sebastian was sitting calmly next to Frei with his usual quiet and serious expression. Rena still could insist stubbornly if it was Frei who said it, but it was one thing when Sebastian said it.

Then she moved her gaze to Frei, Frei was avoiding her gaze, looking outside the window. After they practiced together in the tower, he was acting weird.

Rena sighed, in any way, she was curious about Senka's matter. A thought crossed her mind; she could sneak away together with Mirra, using an excuse like going to the restroom. She was certain Mirra would agree if she asked her.

[No, don't.]

Neel was the one who spoke this time.

(Why...?) Rena frowned.

There was a short pause before Neel spoke again.

[…Senka said he was being followed these past few days, that's why he didn't return to the mansion.]

(What?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!)

Her eyes widened in surprise. She quickly turned her face to look out the window so they wouldn't notice the change in her expression.

[Because he doesn't want to make you worry. But you still worry about him, might as well tell you then.]

(How did you know this?)

[After I chased away the magician who attacked Senka, I talked a little with him…]

Rena was furious that Neel hid this matter from her. Her instinct told her something serious was going on. A mind attack, being followed… Senka didn't return so he didn't endanger everyone else. Frei and Sebastian seemed to know the reason.

(Who would have done this? Do you have any idea, Neel?)

[No, I don't. I'm sorry...]

When the carriage arrived in front of the Colosseum, and they got off. Rena was still busy with her thoughts. Frei, who noticed this, asked, "What's wrong?"

For a while, she was considering whether to confront this matter or not and then she took a bet to talk it to Frei.

"Can we go somewhere else for a bit?" Rena said.

"Alright," Frei said calmly. Then he turned toward Sebastian and said, "You guys go first, I want to go with Rena."

Sebastian nodded, unsuspicious. Frei had been taking Rena away before Senka's match every time.

Rena was walking slowly with Frei was slightly behind her. Rena rarely initiated something, so he knew there was something she wanted to talk about. He was waiting for Rena to speak.

"Neel said to me Senka was being followed. You know about this, right?"

"...Yes." Frei admitted easily. "If you know about this already, then stay away from Senka from the time being."

"Why?" She said rather pressuring.

"You know he is strong. If Senka couldn't shake this person off, this person must be stronger than him."

"…But, what's going to happen when we're back to the ship??"

"Sebastian and I will take care of this. This is not something for you to worry about, Rena."

She felt annoyed that once again she was cast aside. Frei wanted her help without letting her know the problem they were facing. He wanted her to just sit calmly, like a puppet.

"Why is he being targeted?" She asked again, not wanting to give up.

"This has nothing to do with you. Please, don't worry about it."

And with that last sentence, she snapped at the same time the sound of thunder heard in the sky.

"Don't keep casting me aside!" She clenched her fists. "You want me as your bride, for that reason, I'm already involved!"

Finally, for the first time that day, Frei smiled. A weak faint smile.

"Then… When we return to Ardia safely, let's talk again." Frei said. "Let's go back, Sebastian and Mirra are waiting."

And with that, he ended their talk.

Then Rena dashed, blending with the crowds, leaving Frei on the spot.

"Rena!" He called, chasing her.

She turned on the corner and right at that moment, a hay wagon passed by, obstructing the path between Rena and Frei.

[What are you doing?!]

Neel shouted in her mind but Rena ignored him.

Right now, Rena was pissed that every one of them, not Frei nor Neel, kept casting her aside. They wanted her help yet they shoved her aside, treating her like a fool that can only be used as a tool.

[That's not right! I don't think of you as a tool!]

Neel who could read her mind denying what she thought.

(You might think you don't, but that's how I feel! You want my help to find your sister, you consume my magic power, and what do I gain from it? Nothing!!! You're not even bothering to tell me what you know! Even if you know I'll be worried!)

[.....]

(Why are you quiet now?! You should have known this sooner since you're so great you could read every corner of my mind!)

She ran in the direction where Senka was going the last time she saw him, bumping a lot of people in her way. Then she felt a hand grabbed her arm. She got pulled by the sudden motion and her footsteps stopped. Her first thought was Frei, he finally caught up to her. However, behind her was a man she didn't recognize.

She frowned in a mix of surprise and alert of this stranger. The strangely familiar features, black hair, and black eyes, his long slanted eyes carried a cold gaze, like he was a predator. He was tall and lean, carrying a sword on his waist. His grip on her arm was strong even without exerting any strength, she couldn't shake his hand off.

Rena was puzzled when the man spoke, "I've finally found you."

---

A big man with corn braided hair was sitting in the waiting room before his match began. His double-headed ax lay next to him. He was cracking his knuckles, trying to lessen the tension he felt. It was his third time and last chance of participating in this tournament, he had made all necessary preparations over years to win this tournament.

On his first time, he failed, he was too young and too green. On his second time, he failed again, he was in the same block as Luxus. But this time too, it seemed he would fail again. A new guy who came from nowhere suddenly became a favorite in this tournament.

A dark shadow appeared in the corner of his eyes. Halifax turned his head, looking who was standing at the entrance. A teenager with a silvery white hair, light brown skin, and his eyes that gleamed in the dark was like the color of sunset. At first glance, it was hard to tell whether he was a boy or a girl, but his breaking voice revealed that he was a boy.

"Mister, could you drink this for me?" The boy said.

Halifax's eyes squinted, looking at the transparent bottle with silver liquid in it.

"I ain't drinking that. Go away, brat." Halifax said threateningly. He knew the boy wasn't one of the participants. His appearance reminded Halifax of his opponent today, which made this boy even more suspicious. Halifax thought they were definitely related.

"Then I just need to make you drink it." The boy said, smiling.

Before Halifax could react, the boy had appeared in front of him, choking his neck with one hand. The two meters tall Halifax couldn't shake off that boy's small hand. The boy pulled the cork with his teeth and poured the liquid into his mouth.

When the liquid dripped into his throat, his eyes bulged out like they would come out from the socket anytime. His eyes turned all white, as the pupil rolled up. His body twitched violently like the man got electrocuted. His jaws stiffened and the rest of the liquid dripping from his mouth. Then the man called Halifax became completely still. There was no liveliness on his face. The man called Halifax was no longer there, he was hollow, a puppet of the boy.

The boy muttered something while showing his evil grin. Then he disappeared, just as fast as he appeared.

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